Anti-glare device

ABSTRACT

An anti-glare device for motor vehicles including two profiled strips extending parallel and each having a respective pin receiving generally dovetail shaped groove extending along its length. A plurality of slats extend between the profiled strips. Each slat includes a respective pin at each opposite end for reception in the profiled strip grooves and the pins being pivotable in the grooves for pivoting all of the slats to respective use and non-use positions. The pins at the end of the slats are shaped to the grooves in the profiled strips, with one pin being on one surface of the slat and the other pin being on the opposite surface of the slat and the grooves being correspondingly oriented. A spacer is positioned in the groove between adjacent pins and the pins are detented on the spacers particularly into the non-use position. A blocking element at the end of the first and last slats keeps them in the grooves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an anti-glare device, particularly formotor vehicles, comprising two profiled strips which extend parallel toeach other and comprising a plurality of slats which overlap each otherand are arranged between the profiled strips. Each longitudinal end ofeach slat is pivotally connected to one of the profiled strips, andtheir corresponding points of articulation are arranged diagonallyopposite each other.

An anti-glare device of this type is known from Federal Republic ofGermany Laid Open Application AS 11 40 475.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to simplify and improve theconstruction of an anti-glare device of the aforementioned type.

According to the invention, each profiled strip has a lengthwise groovein it of approximately dovetail shape. Each slat bears on eachlongitudinal end a support pin which is adapted to the crosssectionalopening of the respective groove in the strip. In each case, one supportpin is arranged on the front side of each slat and one support pin isarranged on the rear side of each slat. Between the support pins ofadjacent slats, a spacer, which is guided in the groove, rests againstthe support pin. The support pins of the first and last slats aresecured against axial displacement by a blocking element in the groove.

The invention creates a comfort increasing, inexpensive, anti-glaredevice which can be attached subsequently in the vehicle and which canbe assembled by mere insertion in grooves rather than by expensiveriveting.

The profiled strips are preferably developed as rails of U-shapedcross-sectional profile and the open sides of the U-s face each other.In this connection, the depth of each groove of the profiled strips isat least equal to or slightly greater than half the width of the slats.This causes the anti-glare device to be of only small structural height,and when the anti-glare device is not in use, the slats lie protectedbetween the profiled strips. The anti-glare device forms a packagingunit which, in particular, also can be stacked, which is ideal forstorage and shipping purposes.

Furthermore the slats may be developed as plastic injection molded partswith their support pins formed integrally with them. Each pin has anarrower cylindrical neck piece and a wider cylindrical head piece.These measures enable the slats, together with the support pins, to beproduced easily and economically and enables them to be adapted withoutspecial expense to different decorative colors through the use ofdifferently colored plastics.

In a further development of the invention, each slat is developed in theform of a parallelogram. The end edges of the slats thereby assume astop function which limits their path of swing. This is also true ofanother development of the invention wherein in the position of rest ofthe slats, their longitudinal edges extend parallel to the profiledstrips and, in the completely swung out position of use of the slats(after a path of displacement of about 120°), their end edges extendparallel to the profiled strips.

In a particularly advantageous version of the invention, the thicknessof the slats decreases from their longitudinal center toward both oftheir longitudinal edges. The thickness of the slats can in this case becontinuously about 2 mm in the longitudinal center and about 1 mm at thelongitudinal edges. This measure serves to save space, weight andmaterial, and particularly favors the easy sliding of the slats overeach other. This sliding can be further optimized by the free endregions of each of the slats having a flat on its broad sides facingaway from the support pins.

In another feature of the invention, the slats can be stabilized byembedded fillers, particularly glass fibers for stability reasons,particularly also with respect to the lengthwise coefficient of thermalexpansion which is to be reduced.

The spacers between pins are advantageously of rectangular cross-sectionand have recesses in the shape of circular segments at their ends. Theshape of the recess is adapted to the radius of the supporting-pin headpieces. The spacers are developed over at least a part of their lengthwith a cross-sectional profile which is adapted to the cross-section ofopening of the grooves provided in the respective profiled strip. Thespacers are preferably made of plastic injected moldings. The spacersmay thus be pushed easily and simply into the grooves to then define theintended distance between the support pins of the slots from each otherin a reliable manner.

In another feature of the invention, between one or more of the supportpins and the respective spacers, detent means are provided in order tosecure the slats at least in their position of non-use, and possiblyalso in different positions of use, against unintended swinging. Thedetent means may comprise at least one notch at the end of a head pieceof a support pin and of a projection in a recess, having acircular-segment shape, of a spacer which can be engaged in the notch.It is advisable that the spacer then have an opening adjacent to theprojection, which opening permits an elastic springing back of theprojection.

The profiled strips may be comprised of extruded profiled sections ofmaterial, and particularly of light metal or plastic. In such case,where the profiled strips end, their undercut grooves are closed by endcaps, or the like.

The profiled strips can preferably, however, also be developed asplastic injection moldings, to obtain the advantage that the end piecescan be formed in a single piece. It is then merely still necessary toclose the grooves in the profiled strips, which can be formed by a slidein the injection mold, at their end by a plug, or the like, after theassembly of the slats and spacers.

As a further development of the invention a handle may be attached inone piece integrally on one profiled strip which produces a particularlysuitable improvement in operation by moving that profiled strip by itshandle.

The anti-glare device described above is fastened above a vehiclewindow, particularly a side window, in the body of the car. In analternative arrangement, the anti-glare device is fastened on the windowframe of a car door. The latter arrangement has the further advantagethat the anti-glare device can remain in its position of use when thedoor of the car is opened.

Other objects and features of the invention are explained below withreference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the front right inner region of a car having an anti-glaredevice arranged above the front side window on the body of the car, andthe device being shown in a position of non-use.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, with the anti-glare deviceshown in a position of use.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, with an anti-glare devicefastened on the door frame, and shown in a position of non-use.

FIG. 4 is a view in accordance with FIG. 3, with the anti-glare deviceshown in a position of use.

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the anti-glare device, shown partially insection.

FIG. 6 shows an individual slat of the device in top view.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the slat of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows a spacer of the anti-glare device in top view.

FIG. 9 shows a modified spacer having a support pin of a slot shown onthe left side thereof.

FIG. 10 is a vertical section through the anti-glare device shown in aposition of non-use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows the front right inside region of a car. The windshield 1has a sun visor 2 arranged above it supported on the body of the car.There is an A column 3 and a B column 4. There are side windows 5, thenew anti-glare device 6 above at least one of those windows, and ahandle 7. The anti-glare device 6 is fastened above the top of the frontside window to the body of the vehicle and is shown in its position ofnon-use in FIG. 1. From that position, it can be swung into the positionof use shown in FIG. 2, when needed.

FIG. 2 shows that the anti-glare device comprises an upper profiledstrip 8 which also serves as the fastening rail which fastens the deviceinto the car body, a lower profiled strip 9 which also serves as theactuating handle by which the strips are moved apart and together, andslats 10 mounted for swinging or pivoting between the profiled strips 8,9 as the strips are moved apart and together. The arrangement inaccordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 is placed and shaped such that the regionof the upper edge of the front side window 5 can be covered in itsentirety, i.e. from the A column to the B column.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the anti-glare device 6 is notfastened to the body of the car but is instead attached to the upperhorizontally extending arm of the front door, and possibly also to therear door of the car. Contrary to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, thepivoting movement of the anti-glare device from its position of non-useinto its position of use takes place from the front to the rear, in thedirection of the arrow 12. In this case also, different from FIGS. 1 and2, the entire width of the window is not covered.

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the anti-glare device 6 in which the upperprofiled strip 8, the lower profiled strip 9, a plurality of slats 10with support pins 13, and the spacers 14 which hold the support pins 13of the slats 10 spaced from each other can be noted. Each profiled strip8 and 9 has a continuous undercut groove 15 developed, for instance, indovetail shape, which is adapted to receive the support pins 13 and thespacers 14.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, a slat 10 is shown in two views. The slat 10 is ofgenerally parallelogram or rhombus shape with longer longitudinal edgesand shorter end edges. In the position of non-use of the anti-glaredevice 6, its longitudinal edges extend parallel to the profiled strips8 and 9 (see also FIG. 10). The shorter end edges extend parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the profiled strips 8, 9 when the anti-glare deviceassumes its position of use. Because of the rhombus shape of the slats,the position of use of the slats is pivoted down about 120° fromhorizontal. Each slat 10 is developed as a plastic injection molding andhas the support pins 13 developed integrally on its oppositelongitudinal ends. One support pin is developed on the front side andthe second support pin is developed on the rear side of the slat. Eachsupport pin 13 has a cylindrical neck piece 16 and a cylindrical headpiece 17 or collar. Each support pin 13 is adapted to the cross-sectionof the opening of the respective grooves 15 in the profiled strips 8, 9.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 6 and 10, the thickness of the slatsdecreases from their longitudinal center to their longitudinal edges (inone case toward the left and in one case toward the right). It can benoted from FIG. 7 that each of the free end regions of the slat 10 has aflat 18 on its wide sides facing in each case away from the respectivesupport pin 13 at that end of the slat.

FIG. 8 shows a spacer 14 which has a rectangular contour, concavelyshaped recesses 19 at each of its ends. In some regions, as shown, ithas a cross-section which corresponds to the cross-section of opening ofthe profiled strip grooves 15. The radius of the recesses 19 correspondsto that of the head piece 17 of the support pins. The flat part of thespacer 14 therefore fits in the widening and the thick part (extension20) fits in the narrowing of each undercut groove 15. The length of thespacer 14 between neighboring pins 13 is such that the individual slats10 still overlap at their edges in their position of use, as shown inFIG. 5.

FIG. 9 shows a detent device for holding the new anti-glare device atleast in its position of non-use. For this purpose, a head piece 17 of asupport pin 13 has at least one notch 21 around its circumference intowhich a projection 22 which interrupts the concave course of the recess19 can snap. Spring elasticity of the spacer is produced by the presenceof a recess 23 which is adjacent to projection 22 and passes through aflat part of the spacer 14.

FIG. 10 shows a vertical section through the complete anti-glare device6, which is shown here in its position of non-use. Each of the profiledstrips 8, 9 can be developed as a rail of U-shaped cross-sectionalprofile. A groove 15 is present in each case in one arm of the profiledstrips, on opposite sides. Each groove 15 has a narrower groove part 23which faces the profile opening and an adjoining widened groove part 24.The groove part 23 corresponds in height and width to the neck piece 16of support pin 13 and to the projection 20 of the spacer 14, while thegroove part 24 corresponds to the head piece 17 and the flattercross-sectional region of the spacer 14. Each of the slats has arespective width, and the depth of the grooves is equal to at least halfthe width of the slats. The support pins 13 and the spacers 14 can bepushed into the grooves 15 of the profiled strips 8, 9. During assembly,there is alternately inserted a support pin 13 and then a spacer 14.Each first and last assembly part is secured in each groove 15 againstaxial displacement, for instance, by a plug, an end cap or similarmeans.

FIG. 10 shows a further detail in which the profiled strip 8, which alsoserves as the fastening rail, is provided with a handle 7 formed on itby which the device is moved between its two positions.

All parts of the new anti-glare device, with the possible exception ofthe fastening elements, not shown, for attaching the device to the carconsist of plastic, their manufacture being preferably effected byinjection molding.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with aplurality of preferred embodiments thereof, many other variations andmodifications will now become apparent to those skilled in the art. Itis preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not bythe specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An anti-glare device for use in motor vehicles,or the like, comprising:first and second profiled strips extendinggenerally parallel to each other, the first strip being fastenable to aninterior portion of the vehicle; each profiled strip having a respectivegroove therein extending along the profiled strip, with the first grooveof the first strip facing in one direction and the second groove of thesecond strip facing in the opposite direction and generally toward thefirst groove; a plurality of slats arranged so that each slat at leastpartially overlaps the neighboring slat, each slat having oppositelongitudinal ends which extend between the first and the second profiledstrips, each slat having one side of the slat and an opposite side ofthe slat; pivot connection means at each longitudinal end of the slatand at the respective profiled strip at each slat end for enabling theslats to pivot with respect to the profiled strips as the secondprofiled strip is moved apart or toward the first strip; the pivotconnection means of each slat comprises a support pin at eachlongitudinal end of the slat including a first support pin on the oneside of the slat and a second support pin on the opposite side of theslat, the first support pin being disposed in the first groove of thefirst strip and the second support pin being disposed in the secondgroove of the second strip with the grooves and pins being so orientedas to enable the pins to be installed in the grooves, and the slats arepivotable about the pins in the respective grooves', and the pins ofneighboring slats are so spaced apart along the respective grooves thatthe slats partially overlap as they are pivoted and in the use position.2. The anti-glare device of claim 1, further comprising a respectivespacer disposed in each of the grooves between adjacent support pins ofneighboring slats and the spacers and the pins being guidable to setpositions along the grooves.
 3. The anti-glare device of claim 2,further comprising means at the ends of the grooves for blocking thesupport pins at each end of the grooves against axial displacement. 4.The anti-glare device of claim 2, wherein each of the grooves is ofapproximately dovetail shape and the pins and spacers are cooperatinglyshaped to the shape of the respective grooves for being received andheld in the grooves.
 5. The anti-glare device of claim 4, wherein eachof the slats is in the form of a plastic injection molding having therespective support pins developed integrally thereon;each pin having acylindrical neck piece and a larger cylindrical head piece outward fromthe slat from the neck piece and shaped for being received and held inthe respective approximately dovetail shaped groove.
 6. The anti-glaredevice of claim 1, wherein each of the profiled strips is in the form ofa respective rail of generally U-shaped cross-sectional profile and eachU having an open side which faces toward and is opposite the open sideof the other U.
 7. The anti-glare device of claim 6, wherein the groovein the profiled strip has a respective depth, each of the slats has arespective width and the depth of the groove is at least equal to halfthe width of the slats.
 8. The anti-glare device of claim 1, whereineach of the slats is in the form of a plastic injection molding havingthe respective support pins developed integrally thereon.
 9. Theanti-glare device of claim 1, wherein each slat is generally in theshape of a parallelogram having short edges which are at the respectiveprofiled strips and longitudinal edges extending between the profiledstrips.
 10. The anti-glare device of claim 9, wherein the slats may bearticulated between a non-use and a use position with respect to theprofiled strips, and that in the position of non-use, the longitudinaledges of the slats are oriented generally parallel to the profiledstrips and in the swung out position of use, the end edges extendgenerally parallel to the profiled strips.
 11. The anti-glare device ofclaim 10, wherein the parallelogram shaped slats are so oriented andtheir respective longitudinal edges and end edges are so angled withrespect to each other that the completely swung out position includes apath of swing of about 120° until the end edges of the slats extendparallel to the profiled strips.
 12. The anti-glare device of claim 10,wherein the slats have a thickness dimension that decreases from theirlongitudinal center to their longitudinal edges.
 13. The anti-glaredevice of claim 1, wherein the slats have a thickness dimension thatdecreases from their longitudinal center to their longitudinal edges.14. The anti-glare device of claim 13, wherein the thickness of theslats comprises about 2 mm in the longitudinal center and about 1 mm atthe longitudinal edges.
 15. The anti-glare device of claim 1, whereintoward the longitudinal ends of the slats, the slats have free endregions, and the slats have a respective side at the free end regionwhich is opposite the side on which the respective support pin at thatend region is formed, an inclined flat being defined on that oppositeside of the slat away from the support pin and at the respective endregion at which the respective support pin is defined.
 16. Theanti-glare device of claim 1, further comprising each of the slats beingstabilized by embedded fillers.
 17. The anti-glare device of claim 2,wherein each of the spacers has a generally rectangular contour adaptedfor fitting in the respective groove and the spacer being fitted in thegroove; each spacer having respective opposite ends and having arespective recess defined in each opposite end which is adapted to theshape of the respective support pin located at that end of the spacer;over at least a part of its length, each spacer having a cross-sectionalprofile adapted to the cross-section of the opening of the groove in theprofiled strip for holding the space in the groove.
 18. The anti-glaredevice of claim 17, wherein each of the spacers is in the form of aplastic injection molding.
 19. The anti-glare device of claim 17,further comprising detent means provided between at least one of thesupport pins and the respective end of the spacer adjacent that supportpin for detent holding the respective support pin and thereby therespective slat and the connected profiled strip against unintendedswinging from at least the position of non-use until the detent means isovercome.
 20. The anti-glare device of claim 19, wherein the detentmeans comprises a notch on the circumference of the support pin andcomprises a projection engageable in the notch and located in therespective end of the spacer and projecting toward the notch, whereinthe end of the spacer further has a generally circular shaped segment inwhich the pin is received and in which the projection is defined. 21.The anti-glare device of claim 20, further comprising means forproviding a springiness to the projection on the spacer and comprisingan opening defined in the spacer behind the projection for permittingelastic springing back of the projection toward the notch and permittingthe projection to elastically move out of the notch in the support pin,all as the support pin is rotated with respect to the recess.
 22. Theanti-glare device of claim 1, wherein the profiled strips are comprisedof extruded material.
 23. The anti-glare device of claim 1, wherein theprofiled strips are plastic injection moldings.
 24. The anti-glaredevice of claim 23, further comprising a handle which is of one piecewith the second profiled strip, the handle being engageable for movingthe second profiled strip to thereby pivot the slats.
 25. The anti-glaredevice of claim 1, including means fastening the anti-glare device to acar body above a car window.
 26. The anti-glare device of claim 1,further comprising means fastening the anti-glare device to the windowframe of a car door.
 27. The anti-glare device of claim 21, furthercomprising a handle connected with the second strip and the handle beingengageable for moving the second strip to thereby pivot the slats.